Azeotropic composition of fluorocarbon

ABSTRACT

Constant boiling admixtures are formed with 1,2-dichloro-1fluoroethane, acetone, and methanol.

United States Patent [191 Reusser [451 Sept. 9, 1975 AZEOTROPIC COMPOSITION OF FLUOROCARBON [75] Inventor: Robert E. Reusser, Bartlesville,

Okla.

[73] Assignee; Phillips Petroleum Company,

Bartlesville, Okla.

22 Filed: Mar. 6, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 338,417

[52] US. Cl. 252/171; 252/DIG. 8; 252/DIG. 9

[51] Int. Cl. C23G 5/02 [58] Field of Search 252/DIG. 8, DIG. 9, 171

4/1973 Burt 252/DIG. 9

Primary Examiner-Benjamin R. Padgett Assistant ExaminerB. Hunt 57 ABSTRACT Constant boiling admixtures are formed with 1,2- dichloro-l-fluoroethane, acetone, and methanol.

6 Claims, No Drawings AZEOTROPIC COMPOSITION OF FLUOROCARBON FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to novel compositions of chlorofluorocarbon. In another aspect, the invention relates to paint removers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Constant boiling admixtures are liquid mixtures of two or more substances, which mixtures behave like a single substance in that the vapor produced by partial evaporation or distillation has the same composition as does the liquid. Constant boiling compositions characterized as azeotropes exhibit either a maximum or minimum boiling point as compared with that of other but nanazeotropic mixtures of the same two or more substances.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have discovered that l,2-dichloro-l-fluoroethane forms with acetone and methanol together substantially admixtures of surprisingly broad range of relative composition yet with unusual constancy of boiling point, and, indeed, form at least one ternary azeotrope.

A constant boiling admixture which distils without change in composition is defined as an azeotrope. Yet, at a differing pressure, the composition indeed may vary, at least slightly, with the change in distillation pressure, which also changes, at least slightly, the distillation temperature. Thus, an azeotrope of A and B may represent a unique .type of relationship with a variable composition. 7

Thus, it should be possible to fingerprint, in effect, a constant-boiling admixture which may appear under varying guises, depending on the conditions chosen, by any of several criteria: the composition may be defined as an azeotrope of A and B, since the very term azeotrope is at once definitive and limitative, requiring that A and B indeed form this unique composition of matter which is a constant-boiling admixture. Or, the composition may be defined as a particular weight percent relationship or mole percent relationship of A:B, but recognizing that such values point out only one particular such relationship, while in actuality a series of such relationships A:B actually may exist for an azeotrope, varied by influence of temperature and pressure. Or, recognizing that broadly speaking, an azeotrope of A:B actually represents just such a series of relationships, the azeotropic series represented by A:B may in effect be fingerprinted or characterized by defining the composition as an azeotrope further characterized by a particular boiling point at a given pressure, thus giving identifying characteristics without unduly limiting the scope of the invention.

The ternary admixtures I have discovered contain 1,2-dich1oro-l-fluoroethane and acetone and methanol characterized by a boiling point of about 59 to 61 C. at a pressure of about 761 mm Hg. These components together form these unique boiling admixtures which broadly are characterized as containing about 25 to 41 weight percent 1,2-dichloro-l-fluoroethane, about 25 to 33 weight percent acetone, and about 26 to 40 weight percent methanol. These are most unusual wide ranges for such a tight boiling point and reflect the uniqueness of the compositions of my discovery.

The ternary composition as an azeotrope appears to be closer to about 40-41 weight percent 1,2-dichlorol-fluoroethane, about 32-33 weight percent acetone and about 26-28 weight percent methanol at a temperaturezpressure relationship of about 59 to 61 C; at 761 mm Hg, though it would be improper to so strictly define the ternary azeotrope for reasons as discussed above, and .due to possible slight variations in accuracy of monitoring analytical equipment.

EXAMPLE EXAMPLE An admixture of l,2-dichloro-l-fluoroethane, methano], and acetone was charged to a reflux-equipped distilling column. The charge contained approximately 48.1 weight percent l,2-dichloro-l-fluoroethane, 21.4 weight percent acetone, and 30.5 weight percent methanol. Cuts of the distillate were analyzed by chromatographic method so as to determine the approximate composition of the overhead cuts. It is recognized that a specific temperature:pressure relationship governs a particular composition at a given time.

Distillation of the admixture was in an 18 X /4 inch stainless steel packed column at about 761 mm Hg pressure at a reflux ratio of five to one which produced cuts of the following composition: 1 1

TABLE 1 Overhead Distil- Cumulalation live Overhead Weight Temp., Frac- Overhead. Percent Composition C. tion /1 141 Acetone Methanol 73 1.2-dichloro- 1 -fluoroethane.

carbon steel metal surfaces which had been painted with a standard enamel type paint in an oil base applied as a spray paint. The painted surface had been painted approximately six months prior to the run in order to provide adequate curing and solidification time.

About 5 drops'of each sample were placed on the end of-the painted plate with the plate laying ina flat position. In less than 30 seconds the so-treated painted surfaces were freely wiped clean of paint.

The formulations further were tested on vertically positioned painted surfaces. The gelled formulation' was found to remove the paint well, while the ungelled formulation ran off too quickly for, appreciable effec-.

tiveness.

In applying ,my formulationsas gelled paint removers, any type of suitable gellant may be employed'Among these types are methyl or ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate, nitrocellulose, paraffin waxes, as well asincluding the polyalkylene oxide types, preferably such as the polyethylene oxides availablecommonly called Polyox. A range of 0.1 to 5 weight percent preferably can be employed, though more or less may be employed depending on thegell'ant and degree of gellation desired. Such gelling agents can be incorporated into the ternary coni'positions by any of the usual means such as mixing with stirring'at suitable temperatures for the gelling agent. i

The constant boiling ternary admixtures which I have discovered are useful as commercial solvents for a variety of purposes such as degreasing solvents, and certainly will find particular activity as flux removers from electrical circuit boards, as well as for the demon- V strated use as paint removers. The azeotropic admixture is particularly useful for such applications as specialty refrigeration, vapor phase degreasing, and circuit-board flux solvents. The constant boiling ternary admixtures of my discovery also can be used as aerosol propellants, as blowing agents in the manufacture of foam-mold plastics, as cleaning solvents for various purposes, such as garments and the like.

From the preceding, descriptions, it will be apparent that my invention provides novel substantial constant boilingand azeotropic compositions useful for a wide variety of purposes.

. Certainly, reasonable variations and modificationsof my invention are possible yet still within'the scope of my disclosure and without departing from the intended scope and spiritthereof.

I claim:

1. A substantially constant boiling admixture of (A) l,2-dichloro-l-fiuoroethane, (B) acetone, and (C) methanol, characterized by a weight percent ratio of about 25m 41 (A), about 25 to 33 (B and about 26 to 40 methanol.

2. The substantially constant boiling admixture according to claim 2 characterized by a boiling point of about 59 to 61 C. at about 761 millimeters mercury.

3. The substantially constant boiling admixture ac-. cording to claim 3 further characterized by a weight percent ratio of about 40 to 41 (A), about 32 to 33 (B),

V and about 26 to 28 (C).

4. A ternary azeotrope of 1,2-dichloro-lfluoroethane, acetone, and methanol characterized by a weight percent composition of about 39.6 weight percent l,2-dichloro-l-fluoroethane, 32 weight percent acetone, and 28.4 weight percent methanol at a boiling point of about 59 C. at about 761 mm Hg.

1 5. A ternary azeotrope of 1,2-dichloro-lfluoroethane, acetone, and methanol characterized by I a weight'percent composition of about 40.9 percent l,2-dichloro-l-fluoroethane, 32.8 percent acetone, and

26.2 percent methanol at, a boiling point of about 60 C. at about 761 mm Hg.

6. A ternary azeotrope of 1,2-dichloro-lfluoroethane, acetone, and methanol characterized by a'weight percent composition of about 39.2 percent 1,2-dichloro-l-fluoroethane, 25.6 percent acetone, and 28.5 percent methanol at a boiling point of about 61 C. at about 761 mm Hg.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFECATE 0F CORPL'ZEQTIQN PATENT NO. 3,90h,5h2

DATED September 9 9 1975 INV ENT Q) I Robert E. Reusser it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, claim 2, line 21, delete "2" and insert l and Colmn claim 3, line 2%, delete "3" and insert 2 Signed and Salad this thirteenth Day of April1976 [SEAL] A ties t:

RUTH (I. MASON (I. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (mnmissimwr vj'larvr'zrs and Trademarks 

1. A SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT BOILING ADMIXTURE OF (A) 1, 2DICHLORO-1-FLUOROETHANE, (B) ACETONE, AND (C) METHANOL, CHARACTERIZED BY A WEIGHT PERCENT RATIO OF ABOUT 25 TO 41 (A), ABOUT 25 TO 33 (B), AND ABOUT 26 TO 40 METHANOL.
 2. The substantially constant boiling admixture according to claim 2 characterized by a boiling point of about 59* to 61* C. at about 761 millimeters mercury.
 3. The substantially constant boiling admixture according to claim 3 further characterized by a weight percent ratio of about 40 to 41 (A), about 32 to 33 (B), and about 26 to 28 (C).
 4. A ternary azeotrope of 1,2-dichloro-1-fluoroethane, acetone, and methanol characterized by a weight percent composition of about 39.6 weight percent 1,2-dichloro-1-fluoroethane, 32 weight percent acetone, and 28.4 weight percent methanol at a boiling point of about 59* C. at about 761 mm Hg.
 5. A ternary azeotrope of 1,2-dichloro-1-fluoroethane, acetone, and methanol characterized by a weight percent composition of about 40.9 percent 1,2-dichloro-1-fluoroethane, 32.8 percent acetone, and 26.2 percent methanol at a boiling point of about 60* C. at about 761 mm Hg.
 6. A ternary azeotrope of 1,2-dichloro-1-fluoroethane, acetone, and methanol characterized by a weight percent composition of about 39.2 percent 1,2-dichloro-1-fluoroethane, 25.6 percent acetone, and 28.5 percent methanol at a boiling point of about 61* C. at about 761 mm Hg. 